DROIDs will be DROIDs, right? Well, as we’ve come to see with Motorola’s set of DROID branded devices, they encompass a wide array of form factors – with each offering their own characteristic traits. Spitting out devices like no other, Motorola has blessed Verizon’s lineup very recently with venerable devices in the DROID 4 and DROID RAZR MAXX. On one hand, you have a device with a killer keyboard for messaging, while the other relies on its generous battery life to woe consumers, but ultimately there’s only one that’ll stand head above water in being regarded as today’s DROID of choice.

Design:

Initially, the two bear very similar designs with their tapered corners, which has been long established by the Motorola PHOTON 4G, but that’s where the similarities end as the DROID 4 is considerably thicker and heavier – to its credit though, it does pack one killer landscape style QWERTY keyboard. Thankfully, both are still extremely solid with their build quality, however, it’s the DROID RAZR MAXX’s premium choice of materials that enables it to stand out much more in instilling us that it’s a top-shelf smartphone. Not only is the DROID RAZR MAXX sleeker, but overall, it has this polished appeal that makes it the more favorable looking handset.

No worries with their capacitive Android buttons, as accidental presses are kept to a minimum with them. Above their displays, they both feature the same 1.3-megapixel camera, which are normally reserved for nothing more than video chat sessions.

Capacitive Android buttons

Front-facing cameras

The Motorola DROID 4 (left) and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (right)

With a slightly more prominent feel, we prefer the dedicated power button of the DROID RAZR MAXX. Meanwhile, we find the opposite with their volume controls, as the DROID 4 has the better feel. Seeing that both handsets have their microUSB and microHDMI out ports next to one another, they’re enabled to work with the many Motorola Webtop accessories – like the HD Station and Lapdock.

Top edges

Left

Bottom

Right

The sides of the Motorola DROID 4 (top) and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (bottom)

Power buttons

Volume rockers

Ports

The Motorola DROID 4 (top) and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (bottom)

Flip these two devices over, we’re presented with the same exact 8-megapixel auto-focus cameras with flash. Interestingly though, both handsets have non-removable batteries, but we actually like that the DROID RAZR MAXX’s microSD card and microSIM slots are easily accessible from its side – whereas the DROID 4 requires you to remove its rear cover entirely before gaining access.

Backs

Rear cameras

The Motorola DROID 4 (left) and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (right)

Display:

No question about this one folks, but the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX’s 4.3” qHD Super AMOLED Advance display outshines the washed out looking 4” qHD LCD display of the DROID 4. Of course, they both have great details thanks to qHD resolution, which makes it very easy for our eyes to distinguish fine text. Above all, the punchy colors, high contrast, and wide viewing angles of the DROID RAZR MAXX all culminate together to capture and entice our eyes. Placing these two next to one another, it’s quite evident that the DROID RAZR MAXX simply has this polarizing glow that makes it jump out more.

The Motorola DROID 4 (left) and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX (right)

Motorola DROID 4 360-degrees View:

Drag the picture or use the keyboard arrows to rotate the phone.
Double click or press keyboard Space to zoom in/out

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX 360-degrees View

Drag the picture or use the keyboard arrows to rotate the phone.
Double click or press keyboard Space to zoom in/out

I really don't understand how every reviewer raves about the Razr display. The Droid 4 display is atrocious, with blatant ghosting and it looks washed out, but the pentile on the Raxr does not have sharp text either, in fact it looks jagged and has fringing. Even the Droid Bionic and Droid X2 screens looked better because they were a RGBW pentile, and the whites at least looked ok. Seriously in 2012, why are we still using pentile displays? Clearly you can use the vastly superior RGB matrix on any display type, so lets start! I would gladly pay the incremental $10 or $20 to get a vastly superior display. For some reason people see AMOLED and and are all wowed, the only "wow" AMOLED display I have seen is on the Nexus.

AMOLED is like putting loudness effect on the sound - it's not very accurate at all, but it's very attractive and "wow" effect is easily understood. This doesn't have to be so much a bad thing when we are dealing with smartphones - legibility is awesome, a pleasure to use, despite the fact that it uses PenTile matrix. PenTile is problematic only in case of reading small text on web pages and therefore it requires greater pixel density, at last like on Galaxy Nexus, although even on Nexus you can see the inherent flaws of PenTile... but all in all, AMOLED is much more convenient and cooler for smartphones, and while Samsung Galaxy SII i still the only smartphone that uses SAMOLED with RGB matrix, while we wait for others to do the same thing - it is still undeniably the best display technology for smarthones yet!

In couple of years, almost all displays, whether on smartphone, tablet, computer or TV will be some kind of OLED technology. It seems that even Apple will utilize it (LG made).

"...while the other relies on its generous battery life to woe consumers..."

Perhaps you meant 'woo' or 'wow' there John instead of 'woe'.

Auto correct and predictive text like to slide a few in under the radar don't they? Just the other day I told me own mum I was looking for a specific boob to give my girlfriend as a Valentine's Day gift instead of saying a specific book.

there's trade offs for the SAA display in my opinion. it reminds me of why i disliked the Galaxy S series before Samsung showed off SA+. the colors are punchy and they sure get your attention but they're just so gaudy and whites aren't truly white but the blacks are great, truly black just like i like them. i'm so torn between the Droid Razr and the Droid 4 it's not even funny.

I am in the same boat. Although while I love the Droid Maxx, I am leading towards the Droid 4. I'm qwerty kybd fanboi and with me having big hands it makes life a lot easier than trying to type on a touch screen phone.

I felt like that coming from a Droid 2. I was tired of having a heavy phone, so I took a chance on the RAZR and have not looked back. I too, have big hands, but find that it is quite easy to type on the screen. I'm, using Swift Key as my keyboard, it is easily the best keyboard out there (IMHO). You should take a chance on the RAZR,

Tough decision for sure. For me, I prefer the Droid 4's smaller form factor, and the physical keyboard. While the Razr Maxx on the other hand has that amazing battery and a more "premium" feel.

I don't use the keyboard that often on my Droid 3, but sometimes I don't know how I'd live without it. The differences in the screen's quality means nothing to me. The Droid4 has the same screen as the Droid3, which I'm happy with, never understood all the complaints in the first place, looks fine to me.

So basically it comes down to spending an extra $100 for an amazing battery (which I don't need unless I forget to charge my phone at night) but losing a keyboard(which is only occasionally used) and having to get a larger sized phone(which I don't like).

I'm not eligible to upgrade for 3 months and haven't had any success geting Verizon to let me upgrade earlier, so I guess I have plenty of time to decide.

It really feels to me that John V. was insanely bored while comparing the two devices for the most part of this article. I mean, other than the Droid 4's keyboard and the AMOLED screen parts, I felt like he was either pissed off or bored out. Good article though.

These are two very are specific needs phones: Do you need a keyboard, or you will die a slow, horrible death? You will get the Droid 4, and survive for 2 more years. Is the battery life on your LTE toy driving you out on the ledge, forcing you to consider the concrete swan dive? Come back inside, and get yourself a Maxx.

If neither one of those apply to you, why wouldn't you just get the now-cheaper RAZR in the color of you choice, or the even cheaper Bionic? Neither are much of a step down, and Motorola fans will be able to keep a little change in their pocket.

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